Method and apparatus for management of distributed heat and power generation
First Claim
1. A method of managing power production for a facility over a communications network, comprising:
- providing a dispatch controller coupled to a facility power meter and a power generator;
providing an operations server operably coupled to the dispatch controller via the communications network;
receiving facility power load signals by the dispatch controller from the facility power meter;
receiving a generator fuel supply cost signal by the dispatch controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals and the generator fuel supply cost signal; and
transmitting the power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller to the power generator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the management of distributed power and heat generation. An operations server is coupled to one or more dispatch controllers via a communications network. Each dispatch controller is located at a cogenerator site supplying combined heat and power to a facility such as a building. The dispatch controller is further coupled to generators, chillers, and other power producing and consuming facility equipment. The dispatch controller determines which generators and chillers should be turned on, throttled, and turned off based on economic and regulatory constraints. The dispatch controller receives environmental information, such as the cost of a fuel used to power a generator from the operations server. The dispatch controller further reports facility energy usage and equipment status to a billing server so that the facility'"'"'s operators may be billed for use of the cogenerator plant.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of managing power production for a facility over a communications network, comprising:
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providing a dispatch controller coupled to a facility power meter and a power generator;
providing an operations server operably coupled to the dispatch controller via the communications network;
receiving facility power load signals by the dispatch controller from the facility power meter;
receiving a generator fuel supply cost signal by the dispatch controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals and the generator fuel supply cost signal; and
transmitting the power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller to the power generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of managing power production for a facility over a communications network, comprising:
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providing a dispatch controller coupled to a facility power meter, a cogenerator, a facility cooling demand meter, and a chiller;
providing an operations server operably coupled to the dispatch controller via the communications network;
receiving facility power load signals by the dispatch controller from the facility power meter;
receiving by the dispatch controller a facility cooling demand signal from the facility cooling demand meter;
receiving a cogenerator fuel supply cost signal by the dispatch controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a cogenerator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals, the facility cooling demand signal, and the cogenerator fuel supply cost signal;
generating a chiller dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals, the cogenerator fuel supply cost signal, and the facility cooling demand signal;
transmitting the cogenerator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller to the cogenerator; and
transmitting the chiller dispatch signal to the chiller by the dispatch controller. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A dispatch controller for managing power production for a facility over a communications network, the dispatch controller coupled via the communications network to an operations server and coupled to a facility power meter and a power generator, comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
receiving facility power load signals by the dispatch controller from the facility power meter;
receiving a generator fuel supply cost signal by the dispatch controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals and the generator fuel supply cost signal; and
transmitting the power generator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller to the power generator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dispatch controller for managing power production for a facility over a communications network, the dispatch controller coupled via the communications network to an operations server and coupled to a facility power meter, a cogenerator, a facility cooling demand meter, and a chiller, the dispatch controller comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
receiving facility power load signals by the dispatch controller from the facility power meter;
receiving by the dispatch controller a facility cooling demand signal from the facility cooling demand meter;
receiving a cogenerator fuel supply cost signal by the dispatch controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a cogenerator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals, the facility cooling demand signal, and the cogenerator fuel supply cost signal;
generating a chiller dispatch signal by the dispatch controller using the facility power load signals, the cogenerator fuel supply cost signal, and the facility cooling demand signal;
transmitting the cogenerator dispatch signal by the dispatch controller to the cogenerator; and
transmitting the chiller dispatch signal to the chiller by the dispatch controller. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer-readable medium embodying program instructions for execution by a controller, the program instructions adapting a controller for managing power production for a facility over a communications network, the controller coupled via the communications network to an operations server and coupled to a facility power meter and a power generator, the program instructions comprising:
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receiving facility power load signals by the controller from the facility power meter;
receiving a generator fuel supply cost signal by the controller from the operations server via the communications network;
generating a power generator dispatch signal by the controller using the facility power load signals and the generator fuel supply cost signal; and
transmitting the power generator dispatch signal by the controller to the power generator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification